This is it.

So then.

Here it is.

10 years ago I came up with an idea having been asked to see about doing a solo project following my previous band Psalmistry coming to a close. I remember sitting with our drummer Matt and chatting about what we were going to do next. Neither of us had a clue,but I'd already spoken to Piers, and so I knew i was going to go to a different studio to record some songs. That was al it was though, just some songs - there was no live show even thought of. So the person to blame is actually K-Os

(www.k-osmusic.com)

who was supporting The Roots when I saw them in Bristol. He came on with a drink, sat on a stool centre stage with a guitarist & tabla player and rapped tunes with sung choruses. It made me think about getting on stage again with a couple of others & doing something chilled and easily organised!...

So following on from the start, umpteen gigs later, we come to the end. And it's an emotional time really. Me & Mark have been chatting about what happens next!

Hobbit's got an awesome solo career ahead of him and we're so proud that he's been a part of the group and that we've been able to play a part in developing his stage confidence & presence to what he is now. make sure you check out beatboxhobbit.com and also thebeatboxcollective.com

I don't know what happens next... maybe I need to take some time away from any idea of performing, and maybe think about what kind of songs I might want to make next? or maybe ignore music for a while? The hardest thing to think about is that The AFC became more than just a bunch of daft songs - we'd kind of got to a point where we'd really worked out how to put things across on stage and how we wanted to do things! And not only had we started to write good songs and perform them well, but people had begun to latch onto it and kind of get into what we were doing too. Hobbit put it best when he said that it was a shame that we couldn't all commit 100% to the band and go full on for it, but with families and jobs that needed doing, we were never really in that place... it's a shame we never got to do Edinburgh or Glastonbury or to go overseas, but we had a great shout anyways...

So once it's all done, who knows... But I'm sure it won't be the last of me!... I've been performing in a band since I was 17, so I can't believe I won't be doing nothing

I'll let you know

 Edi

The End is Nigh...

The Austin Francis Connection was first conceived in 2003. That seems an awfully long time ago, and now that we're here in 2013, the trio have decided that enough's enough and to call time on their time together.

There are many reasons for this - Edi's work, Mark's new family commitments, Hobbit's solo career... But when it all boils down to it - it's just the right time. Finishing at the end of the summer, The AFC have gone on longer than they ever previously considered (much like Edi's song introductions!) and are truly grateful to all those who've been to shows, bought mugs & CDs, or just laughed along with their tunes. The boys will continue to play a variety of shows throughout the spring & summer, but will be finishing off with a bang at the end of summer 2013 – 10 years after they first got together. So if you get the chance to see them live? Catch them while you still can! 

From gigs to 5 people, all the way to capacity crowds, from gigs on a bus to festival main stages – it’s been quite a journey, and one that never seemed thinkable when they first got together in a box room at Hobbit’s house to go through some ideas for a couple of songs to play at an open mic night. There have been far too many people who have been important and indeed crucial in The AFC getting where they got....our families are far too obvious and they have been massive supporters for us all, but here’s a few other key people and the reasons why.

 1. Piers Williamson – The man who started this whole thing going. He asked Edi to record a solo EP having seen something positive in him when they met at a recording studio in Bristol when Edi was still in his previous band. Piers ended up hosting all three of the band at his home while they recorded with him their first set of songs which eventually became their first EP “A Bit of a Shambles” as well as helping record “All At The Same Time” – their 2007 live recording. One of the nicest, loveliest men you could ever wish to meet, Piers has since moved back down south where they understand a bit more his “hot water” drink of choice a whole lot more than we ever did.

 2. Anthony Harper – A name that not many know. But someone whose friendship, stewardship, and encouragement for The AFC has always been there and has always been appreciated by the guys. Anthony was the manager of SomethingAboutNothing and is currently managing Superhero. A Giant amongst men -Anthony H.... We Salute You!!

 

3. Dweeb – OK, not strictly one person, but 4 fabulous people : Matt, Tim, BMan &; Dave. They have 4 lovely other halves; Sarah, Jo, Jen & Jacqui. Every single one of them has been nice to us every time we’ve ever met up! They’ve been a group we’ve seen in various different places as gigging bands who bump into one another in different locations, and we’ve always had great fun together. They’ve asked us to play their events which have always been a pleasure, and we’ve had both Bman and Dave step in & play when Mark & Hobbit have been unavailable!... Such genuine people – we’ll really miss crossing paths with you.

4. Gavin Tyte – Another man without whom this Shambles would not have existed. If Tyte had not been beatboxing at the school assembly I was in (as a teacher – not THAT long ago!) then I would never have got into beatboxing, never have thought of getting beatboxers to the Hiphop night at Greenbelt, and would have never have met Hobbit. A legend in UK Beatbox, he was a huge supporter of the band in the early days and is a role model for anyone involved in music and how to carry themselves – a true gent.

5. Rich Green – Many people have claimed to be The AFC’s biggest fan.... I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’re not.....Rich is. Rich has spent more time helping us hand out flyers, put up posters, sell cds, organise signings, even find stools to sit on at gigs than anyone else (and I include members of the actual band in that statement!!) and deserves his title. Yet again, he will no doubt work out his work shifts at Greenbelt according to when we’re playing, and we will miss such dedication and devotion from people who we acknowledge are the truest of true fans.


So many many many people we could talk about, but safe to say that you will be missed within our lives and we will look back with huge fondness over the last 10 years as we move on & elsewhere. We are grateful to have been able to play gigs for this long and have people still like us. We are proud to have done everything through ourselves rather than meeting other people’s ideas & plans. And ultimately? We’re going out while we’re still good – with a bang!!

We Love You All – stick the kettle on, we’ll be round for a brew soon!! 
 xThe AFC

final edit of the video this weekend... v.excited! trying to now work out how best to use it for our promo... ideas?

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to the New Year. It's been a bit boring so far hasn't it?

Check the message below as a way to brighten your day

Meanwhile, let us take a little look back at the last 12 months and see how it's all been shall we?

Looking back to last January and our visit to Leicester to The Musician - doing well at the audition gained us a spot at the Summer Sundae Festival which was a corker.... so that was good!

February, and the Artwork for the album was finished and a trip down to Bristol to ensure the mastering of "The Album" was all good... me & James took a trip to the NGM studios... turns out it was mastered just great thanks! Send it all off to get pressed & printed...

March... can't really remember! probably a bunch of gigs and trying to get people to turn upto the album launch which was at Taylor John's in Coventry on...

April 1st (the date seemed to fit ideally if I'm honest!)

We had a great night, had a bunch of our mates watching, and also managed to present my Mum with her mother's day flowers too!

April & May was then just filled with trying to tell people about the newly released album really...

June & July meant trips to Festival in Coventry (love them Scouts!) Brightlights in Kent and Solid in Essex as well as a tiny tea tent in Leamington (which was in the end actually dope!)

It also brought us to the attention of Nottingham through the Future Sound of Nottingham competition and we played in the open air of Nottingham city centre on a stage in front of my own children, and a bunch of my school pupils too. Went well in the end, and a vote online put us through to that final in Rock City in Nottingham in July.

We had fun in the final too, but ultimately should have played "Dave" which was the track that got us noticed, instead of trying to show too much of what we can do too early on... in the end, an enjoyable show, but just missed out on the podium... but at least more people knew who we were after it.

Following that, we supported my childhood heroes Fat & Frantic in Leicester which was a huge honour for me - especially as some people travelled down from Nottingham just to see us play there! (Lynsey, Kirsty, Steve - you're bonkers, but we think you're ace!)

Summer brought a show at Summer Sundae (which was mint) Momentum (which was mint) Harvest (which was a long way away, but was mint) Shambala (which was double mint) just before Greenbelt and a weekend which will remain long in the memory of the AFC.

Hobbit blew his throat out via snoring in a tent & playing the mainstage with Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.... which left me & Mark to play our Underground Stage show on the Sunday + the Last Orders show that evening too. We messed up our original set list, brought in RJ on drums, Adapt on beatbox along with various people to sing along on stage with us!... Thankfully, it seems that the songs are halfway decent and that we were at capacity in the venue throughout the gig so that Luke Leighfield told us he couldn't actually get in!

He saw us later though as we played at Last Orders, went down really well and made some new friends to come and play the show in the shop the next day...

Check the flickr set of our last show that weekend...http://www.flickr.com/photos/64351847@N02/sets/72157627430893347/

September, October, all involving bar gigs in Cov & Notts, with an interview with Notts music paper LeftLion to boot - http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/title/the-austin-francis-connection/id/3970

which leads us to November.

The Bodega Social is a great venue in Nottingham. It was made greater on the 2nd November by the fact that we got to support the Long Beach CA hiphop legends, Ugly Duckling. Not only are they a brilliant Old School hiphop crew, but they're some of the nicest guys around. And we got to play to a hiphop crowd....which was interesting... I wasn't sure how it would go down - but it was wicked! And to get some of your heroes turning round to tell you that they think you went really well as their opening act? Trust me - it's great!

Following that, a weekend filming for our first video for "Everybody Knows Dave" rounded off a great and eventful year....

Here's to another one - Cheers!!

COMPETITION TIME!

Now then!!...

We have a very special limited edition, one off prize that I thought we'd give to a competition winner (not something we've done before, but let's give it a shout shall we??!)

It's going to be a photo competition.

Here are the rules.

1.) The photo must be posted on our facebook page before the 1st November.

2.) The photo MUST have been taken at an AFC show. But it does also include any part or element of the show and the gig itself. That does also include on the way to, and on the way back from...

3.) The photo doesn't have to be high res & glossy to impress us... sometimes, less is more!

4.) The photo does NOT have to include any of the band, but it could if you wanted.

5.) The winner will be decided by Hobbit & the winning entry will be acclaimed from the rooftops and championed across the world!! (or at least, we'll tweet it!)

There it is!! if you've got a good shot of something, why not send it in now to www.facebook.com/theafc and start the ball rolling!

Much Love,

Edi, Mark & Hobbit

Want an AFC TeaBag??

All you need to do is message me at theafc@hotmail.co.uk with the message line - "I need a cuppa" and then I'll give you an address to send a SAE to, which will then be dispatched forthwith containing the very finest blend of leaves to be enjoyed alongside hot water, milk and mebbe a couple of sugars (if it's evening particularly)

The AFC, with a cup of tea - it's almost like it's made for one another!!

The Weekend that just was!... Shambala, Greenbelt and all of that...

Well then!

what a strange up and down weekend that was!!